Beer we drank that we don't get up north: New Belgium Fat Tire and 1554 (my fav); Duck Rabbit Milk Stout; PBR in bottles (ok, we get that in VT, but still); I forget all the rest and Ry will have to fill it in.

December 14, 2011

I'm going to start with this happy image, because I need a little lightness and happiness right now.

I have been paying attention a lot lately (thank you VPR - I appreciate you!), and like the bumper sticker, I am OUTRAGED. There is just so much to be upset about in the world.

I've come back to that slogan--If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention--a lot in my life. Not on purpose, but every time I get worked up about the state of the world, I think, oh yeah, it's not worse than normal, I am just paying more attention than, say, a few weeks ago. So, depending on which classes I took in college, I was outraged (resulting in a few vegetarian years, stands against overpopulation, and proclamations of the urgent need to decriminalize prostitution). It's not that I've stopped thinking about those issues, but just not as fervently.

I remember one rather emotional day when I was a sophomore in college where I had a meltdown. I cried and cried for a few hours (not all that unusual - I generally had an episode like this every quarter, and it was always cathartic and not tragic.) But the night ended with my friends laughing at me because I had started to orate, through my sobs, about how the deer population would go crazy if you killed all the wolves. And-gasp-it-sniff-was-just-hiccup-SO-sniff-IMPORTANT.

Anyway, this week has been particularly outraging. Perhaps I'm predisposed to it because Taco has been a hellion kitty, keeping us up all night (and me worrying about if we're going to have one of those bad kitties that swats at people as they walk by). Either way, here are the Top 5 Things I'm Mad About:

1. When Molly Gordon, an Iowan Evangelical voter said "Frankly, I am a woman, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with a woman as president. Women are just - I just don't know if we're cut out to lead." Seriously? Thanks for undoing a few hundred years of discrimination, lady.

2. The fact that the Republicans are going to "sneak" the approval of a Canadian oil pipeline onto the payroll tax cut renewal bill. There are so many things wrong with this situation. First, the pipeline? Sure it might create jobs, but at what other cost, environmental or otherwise? And, as I hear last night the jobs might not be as abundant as people thing. 2nd, the fact that this is tied in with such an important other bill that could shut the government down...again...or leave the lower middle class with even less money. Get it together people!

3. The Post Office! Please don't go! What would we do without you! It's got more nostalgia than rotary phones and phone booths and VHS and mix TAPES combined. I can't imagine the world without a Post Office. I go to the Post Office like 3 times a week for work - what will I do now? I did love Wait Wait Don't Tell Me's joke on this one, though...can't find the exact quote, but something like "If someone were to ask me to take a piece of paper across the country to this exact person, I would say "that'll be $500 bucks". So true!

4. Ugh - the whole "American Muslim" TV show thing, and how people are reacting to it. Lowe's pulls its advertising, and people are outraged. So disheartening. Nice try, TLC.

5. And last but not least...there is a butter shortage in Norway! What are people going to do about Christmas Cookies? Or put on their toast? Or sauté onions and celery in for soup? Oh the tragedy! By the way, they're out of butter b/c they sold all their milk to the US. Hmmmmm.

I easily could have had 10 more, but thought I'd limit it so we wouldn't feel like jumping off a bridge. Le sigh.

December 6, 2011

I'm not quite there in terms of holiday-spirit, but I'm close. This year I think it's less about traditional decoration and stuff, and more about the feeling of it all. One of my favorite "feelings" of the time of year is the satisfaction of and little smile from giving yourself little treats. A lot of the holiday is spent thinking of others - How do you say Happy Holidays? How can you express to them how wonderful they are? If applicable, what to give them? How much money or time can you spend on them? How do you fit all your friends and family in to a short week or two?

Don't get me wrong - thinking of others is all well and good! And a treat in itself. But it can get stressful, busy and expensive (again, in both money and time). Every now and then you need a little boost to remind you it's the end of another year, and you made it in one piece! Congratulations! And thank you, self.

Here is an advent-style December count-down on how to give yourself little treats everyday of the season:

December 1: Purchase a smelly candle (smelly in a good way -- this year I forwent the expensive Yankee Candle for the $3 Apple Cinnamon from Glade).

December 2: Listen to the Vince Guaraldi Trio "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album. One time or eight times.

December 3: Wake up early to see the sunrise.

December 4: While out shopping (holiday or otherwise...hardware store? Pet Food Warehouse?), buy yourself a nice piece of chocolate.

December 5: Do gentle relaxing yoga in the dark, save for the aforementioned Apple Cinnamon candle flickering in the background.

December 6: Call in sick, and take care of whatever personal business you need to - shopping? Laundry? Holiday cards? Foraging for winter boughs?

December 7: Wear your comfy house shoes to work. Bonus points if you wear work pants that are actually as comfortable as your pajamas.

December 8: Splurge on a Peppermint Mocha Latte from Starbucks.

December 9: Splurge at home by adding two drops of Peppermint Extract to a steaming cup of homemade hot cocoa.

December 10: Take 5 minutes to email or write a letter to someone you haven't written to in a while just to say Hi.

December 11: Go outside and sweat - ski, walk, stack firewood...

December 12: Re-read a few holiday cards you received in years past.

December 13: Tell someone about your favorite holiday tradition.

December 14: Buy and make a lobster to eat at home in the middle of the week.

December 15: Sing a Christmas Carol out loud while by yourself in your car.

December 16: Find a youth chorus or orchestra and go to their holiday concert.

December 17: Google image search one of the following: Christmas kitten, or New England Christmas (especially if it hasn't snowed yet)

December 18: Take a bath.

December 19: Don't bring your lunch to work today; buy a fancy sandwich or a really great salad.

December 20: (Now we're getting close!) Wear a shirt with sparkle or shimmer or sequins.

December 21: Put your towel in the dryer while you're showering, and then wrap yourself in it's warmth after you're all clean.

December 22: Take a nap on the couch.

December 23: Talk to a child. About Santa, about snow or about sugar.

December 24: Take a walk with someone late at night, and hold their hand.

December 25: (this is my favorite!) Wake up early, don't turn on any lights, except the Christmas Tree or equivalent, and sneak around downstairs quietly, just looking at the glow of the lights. Maybe they're shining over a mound of gifts soon to be torn open by ravenous nieces, or maybe they complement the rising sun over morning fog. Better yet (and this is my hope for you all), maybe you can look past them and see snow flakes falling outside, covering everything with that billowy white quilt.

December 26: Do a puzzle.

December 27: Drink a Coca-Cola before noon.

December 28: Don't check your email today.

December 29: Think about your New Year's Resolutions.

December 30: Watch one of those Vh1 marathons recapping the best and worst of the year.

December 2, 2011

I am uncharacteristically NOT in the Christmas spirit yet. Usually, by December 1st at 12:01 AM, I have a tree up, I've wrapped white Christmas lights around the banister going up the stairs, I've spent my paycheck on Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar (now 25% off!) and Cranberry Chutney candles, the tiny stockings are hung by the front door with care (including ones for the cats), and I've heard "Christmas Time Is Here" by the Charlie Brown gang at least 38 times. But I've got none of it. Not a single evergreen bough.

True, it's only December 2nd, but considering we're away this weekend, and then leaving for our 2nd Annual Holiday East Coast Tour on December 16th, I am running out of time. And I've considered that I might have to be OK with that this year. (With the promise to myself that I won't let it become a habit.)

My unChristmasness could be directly linked to advertisements. I think I'm taking after Ry, and I don't like to be told what to do or what to think, so stop telling me in October that I can take care of all my Christmas needs by Thanksgiving and save money if I just get myself to Target! And if you try to convince me one more time that buying someone a car for Christmas and wrapping it in a giant bow is realistic...well, I can't be responsible for my actions. And I don't want a Kindle telling me it's the most wonderful time of the year because I can finally replace the inconvenience of books. I will decide if it's the most wonderful time of the year.

My unChristmasness could also be attributed to this unseasonably warm weather. Last weekend, I was wearing a t-shirt. I have seen 7 snowflakes, and we only have two quilts on our bed (instead of three). Furthermore, not only am I not cold when I go outside, but I am also constantly reminded of the incredible climate changes we continue to see each and every day.

I think I'm getting more cynical.

But I am still hopeful. I am waiting for winter, at which point I am confident the coziness of drinking hot cocoa and cuddling up on the couch with some knitting will get the Christmas spirit flowing, like a Netipot during allergy season. I know there will be some moment soon where I will start to feel like it's winter, and like the season of warmth, tradition, giving and ...

*** UPDATE (later that day) ***

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the bank. It started to snow--big, heavy, fat, delicious flakes--and the bank had Christmas music playing. And candy canes. And glitter covered Christmas trees. I was wearing a hat, mittens and a long down coat. I was dreaming of cookies. Suddenly, every brake light and neon sign started to look pretty against the white snow flakes falling past them. Every shop--even the dirty mechanic that smells like engine oil--looked like it was plucked out of a wintry Norman Rockwell painting.

Could this be? Had I just had my Christmas Netipot?

Perhaps this year there might just not be time to hand craft every gift, and make my own wrapping paper. So what if I don't have energy (after planning and executing a wedding, and still writing the Thank You notes) to make and send Christmas Cards? Hell, we might not even get a Christmas tree (Eeek! But what's the point if it's going to sit around all alone for 15 days. Will the cats really notice a difference if we don't have one?). But at least it's starting to feel just a little more seasonal, just a little more jolly, just a little more like winter.

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About Me

I am a born and raised New Englander, newly married, cat-lover, craft-lover, foodie, gardener and starting to feel like an adult.
I am lucky to have found a husband who is the same, and this blog is a tale of our adventures.
We decided to take our adventures to the next level by getting pregnant!
This year we've definitely put our "big boy pants on."